Gutenberg's life

Johann Gutenberg was
born in Mainz about 1400 and died before 26 February 1468.

Gutenberg, his life, and his work have been the subject of much
imaginative speculation. Our knowledge rests chiefly on the books
which he produced and on a relatively small number of documents.
Most relate to legal and financial matters. This is typical of the
sort of information which survives in archives.

Most people only make their way into city or state archives if
they have legal problems. Fortunately for us Gutenberg had his share
of these. We learn about his money problems and his involvement
in law suits. It is only by chance that such documents occasionally
give us information which helps us understand how Gutenberg made
his invention.